light through early leaves

[15_the_circle]

[OT from cottage renovations]

having heard reports of the unseasonably warm weather bringing forth premature growth I wanted to see what was showing up ahead of its time, partly from concern for any plants that might not do well when temperatures revert to normal but also from plain old curiosity about what's visible. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Grove Avenue

this one has been in bloom for over a week.  it's located in a private garden and the owner advises it's a Verbena Viburnum "Dawn" which has, as she says, absolutely no business blooming at this time of year.  its blossoms were attracting a lively volume of pollinator traffic, but as things cool off over the next few days who knows what will happen. 

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'

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Lenten Rose

I though this Lenten Rose had come out ahead of its time (in the liturgical calendar it is still Epiphany) but I was assured that in this garden this is normal.  elsewhere in the Grove others that I have noted coming later don't seem to be quite so precocious. 

in the same garden these Hellebores are doing quite well: 

M^cCathran Hall

these were propagated from the same stock so the similarity comes as no surprise. 

(incidental process note: in taking this picture in the last few minutes of sunlight, the camera's battery died.  a better prepared photographer would have had the spare on his person rather than in the charger at home, so a quick loop was in order to effect the swap.  it wasn't far but with light running out quickly seconds mattered.  for a low-to-the-ground plant such as this, framing the picture involved lying down on my side on the edge of the Center Street pavement.  I was happy with the image but the less-than-dignified posture did provide an inadvertent spectacle for a neighbour who was passing by.  oh, well, I guess they've come to expect that sort of thing by now, though one is tempted to complete the effect by drinking out of a paper bag).

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this Coral Honeysuckle trails up a signpost next to the Town Hall addition. 

Lonicera sempervirens

in any year it gets an early start but I would expect this stage to come along in March rather than January. 

Comments

Lenten Rose

[(Anonymous)]

"Lenten Rose" is just another name for the hellebore. Hellebores bloom anywhere from Christmas to Lent, or even after Easter, depending on variety and when Easter falls. My hellebore, an orientalis variety, typically blooms in early to mid March.

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

thank you for the clarification.  I had meant to look up further on that plant before posting the images, but lateness of hour added to the usual laziness on my part.  still, the Botany for Dummies part of me rises above mere fact and wishes for it to bloom when its name calls for it to do so. 

on the close (grounds) of the Washington Cathedral is a Glastonbury Thorn (http://www.britannia.com/history/legend/collection/legcol12.html) (from a cutting) that is said to bloom at Christmas and in the presence of royalty.  folklore has it that this is encouraged by staff watering it from a teakettle as needed. 

early flowering 'Dawn'

[(Anonymous)]

George: Another great set of pictures! The first plant shown, however, is one of a thousand different Viburnums, not Verbena. 'Dawn' was developed especially because of its propensity for blooming when the rest of the garden is just beginning to show signs of life. This year, as The Gardener has said, even 'Dawn' is on the fast track. The blossom not only has a wonderful fragrence, it is visually a treat with the deep rosy flower buds tucked into the overall little bundle of white/palest pink open flowerettes. Have The Gardener's Witch Hazels come into bloom? They are another knock-out early treat. Ann

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

*slaps palm to forehead* the error is completely mine: C.U. said "Viburnum" quite clearly but in the darkness of late night (these were back dated to get them into Saturday's post) I scrambled it somewhere along te way between brain and keyboard.  I will edit the entry accordingly. 

no, her witch hazel isn't out yet, and though her snowdrops are up they aren't yet out (their location in the shade on the N side of her house ensures that they trail the ones elsewhere in the Grove).